Drill pipe handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling tubular goods, including drill pipe, which are transferred between pipe racks located near ground level to an inclined position overlying the substructure of a drilling rig where the pipe is picked up and lowered into a borehole, or alternatively, for handling tubular goods which are removed from the borehole and returned to the pipe racks. The apparatus includes a pipe receiving trough which is elevated from a lower substantially horizontal position to an elevated substantially inclined position by means of spaced-apart powered and slave booms. The pivotal action of the powered boom causes the slave boom to be extended upwardly as it pivots toward the vertical position.

United States Patent FORElGN PATENTS 12/1948 Denmarkmm.

[ 72] lnventor Ralph Edward James 1 Odessa, Tex. (604 N. 10th St., Broken Arrow, Okla. 74012) Appl. No. 834,769

Primary ExuminerGerald Mv Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Altorney- Marcus L. Bates [22] Filed June 19, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [54] DRILL PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS WHMP 14 1 9/ 21M 2 Z 1 m M "5 u m m m8 m m m "H n m .m M M .m mm F n 3 mm .m ."m w m m r mh D H "R 6 m m G m h d C ....M 9 U MP. 1 l] 2 0 5 55 1 ll d d 0 .mmw nut das w m l we un ml ut .15 g R m m ik o rm o Pa 2. e a .m mpO l mn m be .e uefi l IW.S CO omw .mmptflm m de t d r a n mm hnh mo m m w ..n mm w w san m mw m mhm r -le dm m r mvd m mwm aaa dfoh mwm mw e h M Wm dw p mwS lr ed mm m Adnmb cludes a pipe receiving trough ch is elevated from a lower substantially horizontal posiy inclined position by means of ve booms. The pivotal action of extended upthe pipe racks. The apparatus in whi tion to an elevated substantiall spaced-apart powered and sla the powered boom causes the slave boom to be wardly as it pivots toward the vertical position.

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DRILL PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In handling drill pipe. drill collars. casing, and other tubular goods which must be transferred from a drilling rig substructure, also called a derrick floor, and a pipe rack, it has heretofore been customary to skid the pipe along an inclined skidway provided adjacent an open side of the derrick. This operation can damage both ends of the pipe, is time consuming, dangerous, and one of the most tiring operations to which a roughneck is subjected. In coming out of the hole, as the drill string is broken down into joints, each joint of pipe is generally I manually lifted from the skidway and properly stacked upon a pipe rack by utilizing a fast line secured between one end of the pipe and a drum in order to facilitate manipulation of the heavy pipe. In racking drill pipe in this described manner, two men are usually required to be absent from the derrick floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprehends pipe-handling apparatus for transferring pipe and other tubular goods to and from the derrick floor of a drilling or work-over rig. The apparatus is comprised of a main elongated frame to which there is journaled in a pivotal manner a powered boom and a slave boom with the rotating ends of the booms each being attached in spacedapart relationship to a pipe supporting framework and trough. The slave boom has the lower pivoted end thereof attached to an elevator with the elevator being moved from a lowermost to an uppermost position as the powered boom is rotated about its pivotal point from a lowermost or retracted position to a substantially vertical or extended position. This action causes the trough to move from a lowermost horizontal position to an uppermost and inclined position, respectively, which is also the retracted and extended position, respectively. The main elongated frame of the pipe-handling apparatus should be positioned with respect to the rig substructure so that the uppermost extended end of the trough will overhang the derrick floor when the apparatus is in the elevated position; and positioned with respect to the pipe rack so that the trough is aligned with the pipe rack when the apparatus is in the retracted position. Accordingly, pipe may be placed onto or removed from the trough at the level of either the derrick floor or the pipe rack.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of pipehandling apparatus which permits tubular goods to be transferred between a pipe rack and a derrick floor.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus which automatically receives pipe from a pipe rack and delivers one end of the pipe in overhanging relationship to a derrick floor.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for receiving pipe from a derrick floor and delivering the pipe to a horizontal pipe rack.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means for automatically transferring pipe from the trough of a pipehandling apparatus onto a pipe rack.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a pipe-handling apparatus having a trough which moves from a retracted horizontal position to an elevated inclined position so as to expedite transferring pipe between a pipe rack and a drilling rig.

Broadly, these objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the fabrication of apparatus substantially as outlined in the above abstract and summary.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the remainder of this disclosure is digested.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a part diagrammatical part schematical side elevational representation of pipe-handling apparatus made in accordance with the present invention; with the apparatus being shown in the retracted position. and with the apparatus being diagrammatically illustrated as being in the extended position by the dash-lines;

FIG. 2 is an end view which shows the apparatus of FIG. I in the extended position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus seen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partly cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partly cross-sectional view of part of the apparatus seen in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pipe-handling apparatus 10 of the present invention can be moved from the retracted position of FIG. 1 into the extended position of FIG. 2. Numeral 12 generally illustrates the floor of the rig substructure. A powered boom 14 is comprised of spaced apart legs 14', 14" rigidly tied together by suitable trussing or the like so as to provide a unitized load carrying member having a rotating journaled end 16 and a pivoted journaled end 18. The rotating journal is preferably a shaft arranged laterally with and rigidly affixed to a framework which supports a pipe receiving trough 20. The free depending ends of the shaft are provided with shaft end bearings each of which mate with the rotatable depending legs of the powered boom. The pivotal end of the powered boom is likewise attached to a shaft arranged laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of a main frame 22, with the depending ends 18' of the shaft receiving shaft end bearings, and with the shaft end bearings being secured to the main frame.

A slave boom 24 is built up in a manner similar to the powered boom in that it has a rotating journaled end 26 and a pivotal journaled end 28 which has the outwardly depending end of the boom journaled to the framework which supports the trough in the same manner as the before described powered boom. However, the pivotal journaled end of the slave boom is attached to a shaft at 28, with the shaft being provided with shaft end bearing 29 which also forms part of an elevator 30.

The elevator is vertically disposed within and forms a part of the main frame. Spaced apart channel members 34 slidably enclose one of each journal means 29 with the shaft 28 being slidably received through the elongated vertical slots formed by the spaced-apart members. Attachment means 32 enables a wire rope 38 to be attached between one of each of the spaced apart journal means so as to move the journal means 29 from a lowermost position 32' to an uppermost position 36.

One end of the wire rope is attached at 32 and rove between pulleys 40, 43, where the remaining end of the wire rope is selectively attached to one of the illustrated attachment points 44, 45 46 of the powered boom, the details of the particular attachment being unimportant for comprehension of the invention. Pulleys 40, 43 are each secured to the main frame and arranged with the first pulley 40 overlying and clear of elevator 32 while pulley 43 underlies and clears the powered boom. A triple acting hydraulic cylinder 50 has the main cylinder thereof pivotally attached to the main frame at 50 with the depending free end of the outermost piston being journaled at 51 to shaft 51' which in turn is journaled to the powered boom by the illustrated bearings.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the trough assembly 20 is comprised of a built-up reinforced framework within which there is disposed a longitudinally extending U-shaped pipe containing trough 20, with the trough being journaled at 55, 55 to the framework so as to enable one longitudinally extending edge portion of the trough to be pivoted about the remaining longitudinally extending edge portion thereof. The journals are preferably in the form of a hinge 56 which is pinned as seen at 57. Longitudinally extending edge portion 58 rests upon the upper extremity of the framework and pivots counterclockwise about hinge pin 57. The framework has a lowermost bottom portion 59 with the upper portion thereof receiving a cutout 59' for receiving the trough therein.

Depending from and rigidly attached to the trough framework are spaced-apart members 60. 60' which have an outermost terminal edge portion which overextends or overlaps an inner marginal edge portion of members 62, 62. Members 62, 62' are rigidly attached to an upper portion of the main frame and are in horizontal alignment with members 60, 60'.

As seen in FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, the trough framework has attached thereto the depending spacedapart pipe conveying and supporting members 65, 65 which are horizontally aligned with and slightly overlapping the depending marginal edge portions of main frame members 66, 66', with the last named members being aligned with a pipe rack for delivering individual joints of pipe 64 to the trough.

Member 66 is rigidly attached to one longitudinal edge 69 of the main frame and includes a pipe delivering means 68 for controlling the movement of pipe from the pipe rack. The delivering means includes a U-shaped member 70 adapted to receive a pipe therein, with the last named member being journaled to member 66 as seen at 71. Hydraulic cylinders, one of which is seen at 72, pivotally actuates the yoke of member 70 from a pipe receiving to a pipe discharging position.

Suitably disposed in underlying relationship with respect to the trough and the framework is a trough or pipe dumping means 75 having a roller 76 disposed at the upper extremity thereof. The pipe dumping means includes a hinged platform 77 which enables the wheel to be positioned as indicated by the dashed lines at 78. The wheel 76, when in the dashed line position, protrudes through the trough framework and engages trough 20' in the illustrated manner of FIG. 4.

OPERATION When the apparatus is in operation, pipe joints are transferred from a pipe rack located adjacent to member 66 and onto the floor or substructure of a drilling rig in the following manner; as the main framework is retracted into the full line position of FIG. 1, and with the pipe dumping means 75 being arranged in the retracted or full line position illustrated in FIG. 4, the longitudinal edge portion 58 of the trough will come into horizontal alignment with members 65 which in turn are aligned with members 66. A sloped pipe rack located adjacent to the elongated main frame 22 provides a supply of pipe to member 66. Members 66, 65, and 58 form a flat slightly sloped plane which causes the pipe to roll towards the trough. Hydraulic cylinder 72 is actuated causing its piston to reciprocate back and forth one time, thereby causing the pipe within the yoke to be released and enables the next adjacent pipe to be substituted therefor. The pipe which was previously contained within the yoke rolls down member 66, 66' and onto the depending members 65, 65' and into the trough as seen at 64 in FIG. 5.

The yoke is in the form of a crescent shaped member within which a pipe joint is received as the force of gravity causes a pipe 64 to roll along support member 66. As cylinder 72 is actuated, the piston thereof is retracted causing pin 69 to move towards pin 73, whereupon the yoke is pivoted about pin 71 from the illustrated two oclock position into an approximately ten o'clock position. The edge portion of the yoke prevents the next adjacent pipe from traveling down member 66 past the yoke. As the yoke is returned to its illustrated two oclock position, the edge portion of the yoke clears the next pipe and allows it to roll into the U-shaped portion of the yoke.

The main power cylinder 50 is then actuated causing the powered boom to be forced in a pivotal manner from the retracted position of FIG. 1 to the vertical position of FIG. 2. As boom 14 moves toward the vertical position, wire rope 38 is carried therewith causing journal 29 of the elevator to move from a lowermost position 32 to the uppermost position seen at 36. This action elevates the slave boom causing the trough to assume the inclined position illustrated in FIG. 1 (dashed lines), with the box of the drill pipe 52 overlying the derrick floor. A fast line is attached to the box and the pipe picked up out of the trough and added to the string of pipe as the string is being made up. The, trough is then retracted by means of the main hydraulic cylinder and another joint of pipe is placed into the trough by, repeating the above steps.

The angle of the extended trough with respect to the main frame can be adjusted by selecting the aperture or attachment point 44-46 which receives the clevis or. end of the wire rope. This selection determines the distance or height which the elevator lifts the base of the slave boom.

When it is time to come out of the hole and break down the drill string in order to rack the pipe, as the string is broken down into individual joints, a fast line attached to the box of a joint enables it to be lifted and the pin placed into the trough, whereupon the pipe then slides down and abuts spring loaded stop means 20". The trough is then retracted from the dashed line position of FIG. 1 (or the position of FIG. 2) into the full line position of FIG. 1. As the pipe is transferred from the bore hole onto the pipe rack, the pipe dumping means 75 must be positioned in the upright position as illustrated by numeral 78.

As the trough descends into the horizontal or retracted position, wheel 76 clears the framework 20 whereupon the outer peripheral surface of the wheel contacts the outer curved surface of trough 20', causing the trough to pivot about hinges 55, 55' and into the dumping position seen in FIG. 4. Gravity causes the pipe joint to roll out of the trough, along the slightly inclined upper supporting surface of depending members 60, 60 onto the slightly inclined upper supporting surface of members 62, 62' and onto the also slightly inclined pipe rack 63. As each pipe is dumped, the joint action of the slightly sloped supporting members causes the row of pipes to be neatly stacked adjacent to one another so as to make room for the oncoming pi'pe joints.

Where it is deemed desirable, bumper 20" can be provided with a hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston arrangement for pushing the drill pipe out of the opposite end of the trough so as to more conveniently present the drill pipe box to the roughneck when going into the hole. This expedient is also advantageous when laying down pipe for the bumper can be extended by the hydraulic piston (not shown) so as to effectively shorten the travel of the pipe as it initially slides down the trough, and as the pipe contacts the bumper, the bumper is then retracted so as to place the center of gravity of the pipe at a location intermediate journal 16 and 26, thereby balancing the load which the booms must support.

Where deemed desirable, an auxiliary chute can be placed adjacent to the upper terminal end of the bore hole with one end of the chute overlying the upper terminal end of the rough so as to enable a pipe joint to be transferred directly from the string into the trough, thereby eliminating the necessity of a fast line. Such an expedient is within the comprehension of those skilled in the art.

It is considered within the comprehension of this invention to position the elevator at an angle different from that disclosed in FIG. 1. It is also considered within the comprehension of this invention to provide mechanical linkage as well as hydraulically actuated means for moving the journal of the elevator in a particular ratio with respect to the position of the powered boom.

The pipe handling apparatus of the present invention can also be used to transfer miscellaneous items from the main frame onto the floor of the rig. For example, a platform can be attached to the uppermost depending end of the trough framework so as to enable the items to be transported to and from the rig floor level.

The hydraulic controls which control the action of the apparatus are preferably located on the derrick floor so as to enable the driller to be in direct supervision of its operation.

The overall size of the skid mounted unit is preferably of a magnitude which will permit it to be transported over the high ways as well as to conserve space when placed on location. The height of the apparatus is important since the top, when in the retracted position, should be at the same level as the upper extremity of the pipe rack. The length of the boom should be selected to provide a height which matches the substructure of 5 the particular rig for which it is to be used. The main boom can be raised and lowered by hydraulic ram, air ram, a combination of air and hydraulics, or by mechanical means; however, hydraulic ram is preferred since there is generally a suitable source of hydraulic pressure around drilling rigs.

lclaim: 1. Pipe handling apparatus comprising an elongated main frame, a pipe supporting trough, a powered boom, a slave boom, an elevator means;

said powered boom having means forming a journal at each extremity thereof with one journaled end beingattached to said main frame to form a pivotal end and the remaining journaled end being attached to said trough to form a rotating end; said slave boom having means forming a journal at each extremity thereof with one journaled end being attached to said elevator and forming a pivotal end while the remaining journaled end is attached to said trough at a location spaced-apart from said rotating end of said powered boom; l

means for moving said powered boom to cause the rotating end of the boom to rotate about said pivotal end which is attached to the frame;

means attaching said elevator to said frame, said elevator including means by which said pivotal end of said slave boom is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position as said powered boom is pivoted from a retracted to an extended position to thereby cause said trough to move from a retracted horizontal position to an extended inclined position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means by which said elevator is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position includes a first pulley overlying said elevator, a second pulley underlying said powered boom, a wire rope including means by which it is attached to said pivotal end of said slave boom and rove about the first recited pulley, the second recited pulley, and attached to said powered boom; whereby:

movement of said powered boom carries one end of said wire rope therewith to thereby lift said pivotal end of said slave boom for a lowermost to an uppermost position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including pipe dumping means in the form of a wheel supported by said main frame and placed in an underlying position with respect to the trough;

said trough further including a framework having hinge means between said trough and said framework to enable said trough to be rotated from a pipe receiving into a pipe dumping position;

whereby movement of said trough from an extended to a retracted position causes said wheel to contact said trough and thereby rotate the trough into the dumping position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further provided means for moving a pipe from a pipe rack into the trough, which includes a pivotal yoke having a pipe receiving end, means for pivoting said yoke from a pipe receiving to a pipe delivering position to enable said yoke to deliver one joint of pipe; support means associated with said trough for receiving pipe from said yoke and transferring pipe to said trough.

5. The apparatus of claim I and further including means located at the lower extremity of said trough for controlling the position of the pipe therewithin.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevator includes two opposed U-shaped members which slidably captures said jouma] of said pivotal end of said slave boom therein to thereby enable vertical movement of said pivotal end of said slave boom.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means by which said elevator is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position includes a first pulley overlying said elevator, a second pulley underlying said powered boom, a wire rope including means by which it is attached to said pivotal end of said slave boom and rove about the first recited pulley, the second recited pulley, and attached to said powered boom; whereby:

movement of said powered boom carries one end of said wire rope therewith to thereby lift said pivotal end of said slave boom for a lowermost to an uppermost position; pipe dumping means in the form of a wheel supported by said main frame is placed in an underlying position with respect to the trough; said trough further including a framework having hinge means between said trough and said framework to enable said trough to be rotated from a pipe receiving into a pipe dumping position; whereby movement of said trough from an extended to a retracted position causes said wheel to contact said trough and thereby rotate the trough into the dumping position; means for moving a pipe from a pipe rack into the trough which includes a pivotal yoke having a pipe receiving end, means for pivoting said yoke from a pipe receiving to a pipe delivering position to enable said yoke to deliver one joint of pipe; support means associated with said trough for receiving pipe from said yoke and transferring pipe to said trough. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevator includes two opposed U-shaped members which slidably captures said journal of said pivotal end of said slave boom therein to .thereby enable vertical movement of said pivotal end of said slave boom;

said means by which said elevator is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position includes a first pulley overlying said elevator, a second pulley underlying said powered boom, a wire rope including means by which it is attached to said pivotal end of said slave boom and rove about the first recited pulley, the second recited pulley, and attached to said powered boom; whereby:

movement of said powered boom carries one end of said wire rope therewith to thereby lift said pivotal end of said slave boom from a lowermost to an uppermost position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including pipe dumping means in the form of a wheel supported by said main frame and placed in an underlying position with respect to the trough;

said trough further including a framework having hinge means between said trough and said framework to enable said trough to be rotated from a pipe receiving into a pipe dumping position; whereby movement of said trough from an extended to a retracted position causes said wheel to contact said trough and thereby rotate the trough into the dumping position;

means for moving a pipe rack from a pipe rack into the trough, including a pivotal yoke having a pipe receiving end, means for pivoting said yoke from a pipe receiving to a pipe delivering position to enable said yoke to deliver one joint of pipe;

support means associated with said trough for receiving pipe from said yoke and transferring pipe to said trough. 

1. Pipe handling apparatus comprising an elongated main frame, a pipe supporting trough, a powered boom, a slave boom, an elevator means; said powered boom having means forming a journal at each extremity thereof with one journaled end being attached to said main frame to form a pivotal end and the remaining journaled end being attached to said trough to form a rotating end; said slave boom having means forming a journal at each extremity thereof with one journaled end being attached to said elevator and forming a pivotal end while the remaining journaled end is attached to said trough at a location spaced-apart from said rotating end of said powered boom; means for moving said powered boom to cause the rotating end of the boom to rotate about said pivotal end which is attached to the frame; means attaching said elevator to said frame, said elevator including means by which said pivotal end of said slave boom is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position as said powered boom is pivoted from a retracted to an extended position to thereby cause said trough to move from a retracted horizontal position to an extended inclined position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means by which said elevator is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position includes a first pulley overlying said elevator, a second pulley underlying said powered boom, a wire rope including means by which it is attached to said pivotal end of said slave boom and rove about the first recited pulley, the second recited pulley, and attached to said powered boom; whereby: movement of said powered boom carries one end of said wire rope therewith to thereby lift said pivotal end of said slave boom for a lowermost to an uppermost position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further includIng pipe dumping means in the form of a wheel supported by said main frame and placed in an underlying position with respect to the trough; said trough further including a framework having hinge means between said trough and said framework to enable said trough to be rotated from a pipe receiving into a pipe dumping position; whereby movement of said trough from an extended to a retracted position causes said wheel to contact said trough and thereby rotate the trough into the dumping position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further provided means for moving a pipe from a pipe rack into the trough, which includes a pivotal yoke having a pipe receiving end, means for pivoting said yoke from a pipe receiving to a pipe delivering position to enable said yoke to deliver one joint of pipe; support means associated with said trough for receiving pipe from said yoke and transferring pipe to said trough.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means located at the lower extremity of said trough for controlling the position of the pipe therewithin.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevator includes two opposed U-shaped members which slidably captures said journal of said pivotal end of said slave boom therein to thereby enable vertical movement of said pivotal end of said slave boom.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means by which said elevator is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position includes a first pulley overlying said elevator, a second pulley underlying said powered boom, a wire rope including means by which it is attached to said pivotal end of said slave boom and rove about the first recited pulley, the second recited pulley, and attached to said powered boom; whereby: movement of said powered boom carries one end of said wire rope therewith to thereby lift said pivotal end of said slave boom for a lowermost to an uppermost position; pipe dumping means in the form of a wheel supported by said main frame is placed in an underlying position with respect to the trough; said trough further including a framework having hinge means between said trough and said framework to enable said trough to be rotated from a pipe receiving into a pipe dumping position; whereby movement of said trough from an extended to a retracted position causes said wheel to contact said trough and thereby rotate the trough into the dumping position; means for moving a pipe from a pipe rack into the trough which includes a pivotal yoke having a pipe receiving end, means for pivoting said yoke from a pipe receiving to a pipe delivering position to enable said yoke to deliver one joint of pipe; support means associated with said trough for receiving pipe from said yoke and transferring pipe to said trough.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevator includes two opposed U-shaped members which slidably captures said journal of said pivotal end of said slave boom therein to thereby enable vertical movement of said pivotal end of said slave boom; said means by which said elevator is moved from a lowermost position to an uppermost position includes a first pulley overlying said elevator, a second pulley underlying said powered boom, a wire rope including means by which it is attached to said pivotal end of said slave boom and rove about the first recited pulley, the second recited pulley, and attached to said powered boom; whereby: movement of said powered boom carries one end of said wire rope therewith to thereby lift said pivotal end of said slave boom from a lowermost to an uppermost position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including pipe dumping means in the form of a wheel supported by said main frame and placed in an underlying position with respect to the trough; said trough further including a framework having hinge means between said trough and said framework to enable said trough to be rotated from a pipe receiving into a pipe dumping position; whereby movemEnt of said trough from an extended to a retracted position causes said wheel to contact said trough and thereby rotate the trough into the dumping position; means for moving a pipe rack from a pipe rack into the trough, including a pivotal yoke having a pipe receiving end, means for pivoting said yoke from a pipe receiving to a pipe delivering position to enable said yoke to deliver one joint of pipe; support means associated with said trough for receiving pipe from said yoke and transferring pipe to said trough. 